Monday, March 22, 2010

Lawyers have filed an appeal seeking to overturn the conviction of tradeunion activist Seher Tümer. Late in the day of 18 March, the Ankara HighCriminal Court in Turkey declared Tümer guilty of belonging to an illegalKurdish organization, and "making propaganda" through participation inpublic demonstrations, and sentenced her to more than seven years inprison. Tümer has already spent close to one year in prison. Her lawyersmaintain there is no evidence to back these charges.

The global union federation Public Services International (PSI) contendsthat Tümer has been targeted for her activities in the labour and women'smovements in Turkey. Tümer is branch secretary of Saglik ve Sosyal HizmetEmekçileri Sendikasi (SES),the trade union representing public employeesin health and social services.

"We are deeply concerned by what appears to be a travesty of justice inTümer's case, and numerous recent cases like it," says PSI generalsecretary Peter Waldorff.

"We are seeing a pattern of political persecution of trade union activistsin Turkey. We believe national 'security' laws are being used as a pretextto silence union leaders. This abuse of human rights must stop."

Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, general secretary of the European Federation ofPublic Service Unions (EPSU) adds, "Our affiliate members in Turkey haveasked us to call on trade unionists world-wide to continue to raise theirvoices on Tümer's behalf.

"Please write letters to Turkey's prime minister, president, and justiceminister demanding open examination of Tümer's case record in an expeditedappeal process."

Because of the backlog in cases, it could take longer than a year forTurkey's Supreme Court of Appeals to consider Tümer's appeal. Tümer'slawyers maintain that her house was searched by police when she was not athome, in contravention of the Turkish criminal code, and charges should bedismissed on this basis alone. Texts printed from her computer were usedas evidence in court, despite arguments for consideration of freedom ofexpression. Further, it was noted in court that demonstrations that Tümerparticipated in were peaceful and related to trade union and women'srights. PSI and Turkish trade unions gathered more than 8000 signatures ina petition demanding justice for Tümer that was presented to authoritiesearlier this month.

Seher Tümer appeared in court in Ankara, Turkey on 9 March. A total of8000 signatures - 3000 of trade unionists from around the world and 5000from Turkey - had been collected at that point and presented to theMinistry of Justice on 8th March, petitioning for her immediate release.Nearly five hundred people had gathered both inside and outside thecourtroom to express their solidarity. Her trial has now been postponeduntil 18 March. Ms Tümer's lawyers are optimistic that she may be releasedat that time. Meanwhile, keep sending letters and signing the petition.Tümer continues to need international support in her bid for freedom.

ImagePeople gathered outside the courtroom before the trial on 9 Marchto express their solidarity with Seher Tümer

26 February 2010

Union activist Seher Tümer, Branch Secretary of PSI affiliate SES (thetrade union of public employees in health and social services), will spendInternational Women's Day 2010 in prison.

But international solidarity action could open the door to freedom for her.

Ms Tümer has now been detained in an F-type prison for almost a year, withno clear charges being brought against her. PSI is convinced that herarrest is linked to her activities in the labour and women's movements inthat country, including participating in International Women's Dayactivities last year. Tümer, who is Kurdish, was arrested and imprisonedin April 2009. Her case mirrors that of fellow union leader MeryemÖzsögüt, who faced similar charges of belonging to a terroristorganisation. (Özsö&#287;üt was released after eight months in prisonfollowing a major international protest campaign led by PSI.)

PSI has been closely following this case. Ms Tümer's next court appearanceis planned for9 March, PSI and EPSU have sent a joint letter of protest to the TurkishPrime Minister demanding that all charges be dropped and that she beimmediately released.

PSI urgently calls on trade unions and concerned organisations to writesimilar letters of protest. Join the Labourstart Campaign and send aletter of protest now. For more information please contactrights@world-psi.org

ImageMs Tümer has the support of fellow trade unionists.Photo taken during the recent nationwide demonstrations onFebruary 21 in Turkey - courtesy of SES